Balanced valve



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. T. LEE.

BALANCED VALVE. No. 392,351. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

WITNESSES: INV'ENTOR:

M; I BY u V ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. PhalmLKhngnpher. Washinglun. n. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. T. LEE.

I BALANCED VALVE. No. 392,351. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

WITNESSES INVENTOR W l i x ATTORNEYS.

N. mzns. Pholoiilhographer. Washinmnn, n c.

rFIcE.

P TENT JULIUS THOMAS. LEE, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.

BALANC ED VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 392,351, dated November6, 1888.

Application filed March 1, 1888. Serial No. 265,818. (No model.)

You whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIUs THOMAS LEE,

of Mattoon, in the county of (loles and State of Illinois, have inventeda new and Improved Balanced Valve, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to' provide a new and improved balancedvalve for steamengines, whereby the valve travels lightly on its seat,thereby preventing a considerable amount of friction and wear of thevalve, at the same time keeping the valve true and even, so that theengine is capable of working to the fullest advantage at all times.

The invention consists of an adjustable table or track held in thesteam-chest and a roller-frame provided with rollers traveling on thesaid table and supporting the slide-valve.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, andthen I pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l isa longitudinal sectional elevation of the improvement asapplied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the same on theline a: m of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectionalelevation of the improvement on the line 3 11 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is alike view of the same on the line a z of Fig. 1.

The steam-cylinder A,of any approved construction, supports asteam-chest, B, in which is held to slide the slide-valve O, travelingover the ports of the cylinder A and provided with a valve-rod, D,connected in the usual manner with suitable mechanism on the engine forimpartinga sliding motion to the said valve 0. On the front and rearsides of the top of the slide-valve O are placed the longitudinal platesE, supporting a cover, F, fastened by bolts G to thesaid longitudinalplates E, said bolts G also fastening the longitudinal plates E to theslide-valve O.

The cover F is provided in its middle with a strengthening-rib, F, andthe under side of the said cover is supported on a number of rollers, H,each provided at its ends with trunnions H, mounted to rotate insuitable bearings formed in the roller-frame I, prefer ably made of twoU shaped parts, of which the ends I overlap each other and are securedtogether by bolts 1, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2. Each roller H isprovided with a number of reduced parts,H placed alternately between theenlarged rollers H as is plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The enlargedpart forms flanges which guide the rollers on the tracks. The reducedparts H of the rollers H travel on the longitudinal strips or tracks J,fastened on the top of a table, K, extending the length of thesteam-chest B, but not reaching quite to either side of the steam-chest,so as to leave a steamspace between the sides of the steam-chest and thetwo corresponding sides of the table K. The said table K is supported bya number of springs, L, each coiled on a vertical rod, N, the lower endof which rests on the cylinder A, while its upper end passes through asuitable aperture formed in the said table K. The upper end of eachspring L rests on the under side of the table K and the lower end ofeach spring L rests on a collar, N, secured to the rodN. The table K canbe adjusted up or down in the steam-chest B by the screw-rods O, whichpass through suitable apertures in the table K and screw at their lowerends into the cylinder A. Said screw-rods 0 pass through the cover B ofthe steam-chest B, and on the outer threaded ends of each screw-rodscrews a nut, P, which is conical at its lower end and which fits into acorresponding conical aperture formed in the top of the cover B. On eachscrew-rod O is secured a collar, 0, which rests on the top of the tableK, so that when the screw-rods O are screwed up and down said collars 0'either press the table K downward or permit an upward movement of thesame by the action of the springs L pressing upward.

At each end of the steam-chest'B are secured two or more springs, Q,adapted to be engaged by lugs 1 projecting from each end of theroller-frame I, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2. In the table K, betweenthe strips or tracks J, are formed a series of apertures, K, so as topermit the steam to pass from the lower part of the steam-chest to theupper, and vice versa, and also to permit the oil from the oilcup R topass on the seat of the slide-valve C.

The operation is as follows: The slide-valve 0 receives a sliding motionin the usual man nor from the mechanism connected with the valve-rod D.The cover F, being secured to the slide-valve O and resting on therollers II, supports the slide-valve on its seat, so that no pressureexists between the face of the slide valve and its seat on the cylinderA, and the table K is adjusted up or down accordingly by the screw-rodsO, as above described, so that the wear that takes place on theslide-valve O can be taken up by the bolts 0, which adjust the table Klower down, and thus lower the slidc-valve G. The latter in its forwardand-backward motion travels with its cover F on the rollers II, wherebythci'riction usually encountered in slide-valves as at presentconstructed is reduced to a minimum. The rollers II, having the reducedportions H, traveling on the strips or tracks J, also have very littlefriction, and the steam entering the steam-chest B can easily pass toall parts of the steanrchcst I5, either at the sides of the table K orthrough the apertures K in the same.

In case the roller-frame I gets out of place or to one side of thecentral line, the lugs I on the forward and backward motion of theslidevalve 0 will strike the springs Q, thus keeping the rollers IIdirectly under the center of the cover 1?. \Vhcn the rollers II and theroller-frame I are in place and the valve 0 0p crates at full stroke,thelugs I will just touch the respective springs Q at the ends of thesteam-chest B on the forward and backward movement of the said valve.

It will be seen that when the steam is turned oil and the valve put onlong stroke, as is frequently done in locomotive-engines, the rollers IIand their frame I adjust themselves to the center line at once, andhence they cannot get out of place or cause friction.

It will be obvious that my improvement is equally applicable tostationary and locomotive engines.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. In a roller-valve, the combination, with atable held in a steanrchcst and provided a table provided withlongitudinal strips or tracks, of springs supporting the under side ofsaid table, vertical rods on which said springs are coiled, said rodsalso guiding said table, screw-rods screwing into the cylinder andpassing through the steam-chest cover and through the said table, nutsscrewing on the outer ends of the said screw-rods, and a collar formedon each screw-rod and resting on top of the said table, substantially asshown and described.

3. In a roller-valve, the combination, with a cylinder and steam-eh est,of a table provided with longitudinal strips or tracks, springs on whichsaid table rests, a screw-rod screwing in the cylinder and passingthrough the said table and the steam-chest cover, a collar formed oneach. screw-rod and resting on top of the said table, and a nut having aconical bottom and screwing on the outer end of the said screw-rod,substantially as shown and described.

1-. In a rollcr-valve, the combination, with a steam-chest, of a tableheld adjustably in the said steam-chest and provided with longitudinalstrips or tracks, rollers traveling on the said table, a frame in whichthe said rollers are mounted, said frame being provided with lugs ateach end, and springs held on the in side of the said steam-chest andagainst which operate said lugs on the roller-frame, substantially asshown and described.

5. In a roller-valve, the combination, with a cylinder and steam-chest,of a slide-valve traveling in the said steam-chest, a cover fast ened onthe said slide-valve, rollers supporting the said cover, a frame inwhich the said rollers are mounted to turn, a table held adjustably inthe said steam-chest and provided with longitudinal strips or tracks,and springs held on the said steam-chest and adapted to be engaged bylugs on the said roller-frame, substantiall y as shown and described.

J. THOMAS LEE.

Witnesses:

S. RICHMOND, (3. E. WILsoN.

ICO

